After searching on the web, I found and downloaded two free backup utilities. Before installing either one, I would like some more opinions about each. If there is one out there that you like better, please feel free to mention it.
I downloaded both Easeus Disk Copy 2.3 and Macrium Reflect Free Edition 4.2
RoRo
I haven’t heard of those. In the past I looked at Cobian and Syncback, I think. They both have 5 stars at Snapfiles.
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/system/fwbackup.html
Simple Backup Tool might be worth a look if you want something really easy.
http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Simple_Backup_Tool/simplebackuptool.html
Unable to compare, or even to offer much opinion, as (1) I haven’t used Easeus, and (2) I haven’t had to test a backup made with Macrium, but Macrium installed and ran easily, seems to have good help files, and appeared to work without problem.
There were many good reviews about Macrium, but of course there are always a couple of bad ones, so I was concerned. It had 5 cows at TUCOWS. I will look at Cobian and Syncback too FreewheelinFrank, and also check Snapfiles.
Thanks to you both.
RoRo
Bob gave a link to a wonderfull article on Lifehacker. I suggest you read it. BTW Paragon is my favorite out of these programs but i’ve been using Vista’s wbadmin(not available with Vista Home versions) for some time now and it suits my needs just fine. In the past i’ve bought Acronis but i ended up giving it to my dad as i felt he needed it more than me, i like the program though … 
http://lifehacker.com/5303067/five-best-free-system-restore-tools
@roro: Macrium is also very good, if you feel comfortable with it i recommend you keep it. I tested it last year, made a few images on both of my systems, tried restoring and it worked like a charm.
These are disc imaging programs rather than simple back up programs.
I use a backup program (Simple Backup - Linux) to back up my documents, music and picture files etc.
I’m not sure what roro is looking for, but there’s a choice between file and folder backup and HD image backup.
Macrium looks good and it seems it will do both, but that’s just from a cursory glance at the web page.
Hey Frank ! I don’t know what she is looking for either but i assumed it was a disk imaging program since the 2 she mentioned in her first post are just that.
Hi Mikey.
I guess roro can tell us what she’s looking for.
I am confused. I didn’t know there was a difference. All of the places I go to call these programs backup utilities or backup and recovery software. Of course I want something to back up all my files and folders if I have to reinstall Windows. I would assume that none of these backups would install programs, and I would have to do that myself. All I have done for now is copy my C drive onto an external hard drive. I assumed one of these programs would do this more efficiently. What is the difference between what I want and a disk imaging utility?
I have found another interesting software and may try it. Here is cnets review. Apparently it is quite new.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10240182-1.html
I would assume it does what I want.
RoRo
Disk Imaging software(better term would be Disk CLONING) like Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image, Macrium Reflect etc. create a complete copy(clone) of your partition/s(say c:) and store it in a file called disk IMAGE. You can then use this file to restore your partition to the state it was when you backed up.
Backup programs like Cobian, Synctoy, GFI etc. are only file/folder backup programs and they create copies of the files/folders you want to back up.
EDIT: Anyway if you like spending hours in front of the computer reinstalling windows from scratch then forget about disk imaging. But if you would like to be able to restore your system partition in a few minutes use a disk imaging program like Macrium. If you have important files that need say daily backup than i suggest an online backup like Tech suggested(Mozy). Or if you don’t feel comfortable having your files online use one of the programs that was already mentioned. Probably best if you just use Macrium for all this. There are many different methods of achieving what you want. I believe the simplest one is to just make regular weekly image backups.
EDIT2: Some spelling issues … ;D
darth_mikey beat me to it- most of this just repeats what he said.
Disc imaging copies your HD- OS, registry, installed programs, files and folders, kitchen sink, balls of fluff, nasty stains on the carpet.
If your computer crashes or fails to run correctly, you can restore the HD to a previous state.
The other approach is to back up selected folders- documents, pictures, music, browser favourites etc.
Then if you lose a document, you’ll have a backup.
If the computer crashes irrecoverably, you can reinstall the OS- but you’ll have to reinstall programs and restore files and folders.
You can do both of course by backing up folders every few hours, and doing a disc image every week or so.
Personally I only back up my documents, pictures and music. If the OS goes pear shaped, I can easily reinstall it.
Up to you which approach you take of course.
I saw GFI Backup on Snapfiles- looks nice, but I’ve never tried it.
Love your post Frank, i just finished editting mine when i read it …
I have found another interesting software and may try it. Here is cnets review. Apparently it is quite new.Haven't ever heard of this one - (not too surprising, there are hundreds of utilities of this nature available) - but did a little research, and it looks OK to me. The [url=http://www.gfi.com/backup-hm/free-backup-software]Homepage[/url] looks well laid out and informative. There is a link to a well-used [url=http://forums.gfi.com/GFI_Backup_-_Home_Edition/forumid_52/tt.htm]forum[/url], and that's a sign of a company that is more helpful than average. There aren't a lot of posts indicating major problems with the program. If I wasn't already happy with what I use, and read a recommendation for this one, I'd probably give it a shot.
Let us know if it does what you want it to! ;D
Thank you so much. I did download the GIF Backup software and it does just backup files. I am zipping them and doing that now to see how much space it uses and how long it takes. I will also install Macrium as I want to see how it works, and have enough of an external hard drive to download a disk image
Thanks for your great explanations. I am surprised I couldn’t pick up on that when I read all the reviews, but now I understand.
RoRo
I learned something new yet again. My Fantom external hard drive was formatted in Fat 32. That won’t take files larger than 4 G, so after not getting much backed up, I am now reformatting the Fantom drive to NTFS which takes a while and of course erased any back up files that i had on it. Then I will try using GIF again to backup files, on my 3 computers.
I don’t know if this will help someone else as clueless as I am. :
RoRo
Bob posted this in the Interesting Software and System News topic very handy.
Yes, I didn’t see yours, happens when it spreads over the single page ;D
At least they won’t miss the reference ;D
;D